Opposition fears cheating in overseas voting

The Genuine Opposition (GO) voiced fears Friday that a major part of cheating in the May 14 elections could be done through overseas voting. GO spokesman Adel Tamano noted that the number of Filipinos abroad who are registered to vote increased by 138,813 to more than 500,000, or from 365,187 in 2004. “GO cautions would-be cheaters that under the law at all stages of the electoral process, the Comelec is duty bound to go after them and ensure that the secrecy and integrity of the ballots are preserved. Under The Overseas Absentee Voting Act of 2003 it is also unlawful for any officer or employee of the Philippine government to influence or attempt to influence any voter to vote, or not to vote, for a particular candidate," Tamano said. He also reminded the government that there should be no transfer, promotion, extension, recall or movement of diplomats and foreign service officers during the election period. Under the law, he said “no officer or member of the foreign service corps, shall be transferred, promoted, extended, recalled or otherwise moved from his current post or position one year before and three months after the day of elections, except upon the approval of the Comelec under that piece of legislation." Also prohibited are acts to deprive any person of his right to vote or to give false information for the purposes of establishing his/her eligibility to register or vote as well as the act of paying, or offering to pay, or to accept payment either for application to vote in absentia or for voting; steal, destroy, conceal, mutilate or alter any record, document or paper as required by the absentee voting act." - GMANews.TV